Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Perfect Beginner
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No matter how tough a hobgoblin was, it was nothing but cute in front of an orc.
Orcs towered over 2.5 meters tall with pig-like builds, boasting incredibly high base defense.
To tell a level 1 player to take down orcs like thatand two of them, no less.
This was a stage you weren't meant to clear.
It was an infuriating difficulty that could make even rotten water lose the will to live.
And yet, someone did clear it.
One of the users who had betrayed him: James Marcus.
He was America's strongest Paladin, the only player to ever conquer stage 4.
Stage 4 is probably already cleared by now.
James Marcus, an early adopter, had just broken through level 500 at this very moment, pulling far ahead.
To catch up to him even a little, Jeong Hoon had to clear tutorial stage 4 no matter what.
Groooar! Foolish human, surrender now, and Ill just take one of your limbs!
The orc was looking down on Jeong Hoon.
Well see about that.
Jeong Hoon raised his spear and aimed it at the orc.
Stupid human!
The orc swung the axe it held.
Jeong Hoon smoothly stepped aside, dodging with ease.
Whoosh.
A heavy gust of wind assaulted Jeong Hoon, as if flaunting its brute strength.
His hair whipped around.
Even so, Jeong Hoons expression remained relaxed.
Back in his All Master days, orcs were less than a snack to himjust a single punchs worth.
Whoosh!
He couldnt follow the orcs movements with his eyes, but reading their thoughts was a breeze.
Jeong Hoon predicted their attack paths and moved against them, leaving every orc swing to whiff through empty air.
Agile Body
-Type: Passive
-Level: 1
-Rank: Normal
-Reflexes increased by 10.
-Movement speed increased by 10.
-Agility stat receives 2 additional bonus.
Having acquired the Agile Body skill certainly made his body feel lighter.
Jeong Hoon thrust his spear forward.
The spear tip pierced one of the orcs eyes, driving straight into its brain.
No matter how tough their hide, they couldnt reinforce their eyes.
Martial Artist exclusive skill, Unyielding Will has activated.
You have acquired the skill Vital Strike (Normal)
Taking down an orc twenty levels higher in a single blow rewarded him with a new skill.
Vital Strike. Its been a while.
Hed gained a immediately useful skill.
Not coming at me?
Jeong Hoon aimed his spear at the remaining orc and asked.
Grooo Human, what are you? Why are you so strong?
Im level 1. You dont think maybe youre just weak?
Liar!
Unable to accept the reality, the orc went berserk, swinging its axe wildly.
But with Vital Strike acquired, the orcs weaknesses were laid bare in Jeong Hoons eyes.
Jeong Hoon sidestepped every axe swing, and when he closed the distance,
he gripped the spearhead and stabbed at the orcs throat.
Kwek!
The orc, throat pierced, died with eyes bulging wide.
You have successfully completed Tutorial Stage 4!
Got it!
This made him the second user ever to clear tutorial stage 4.
Would you like to end the tutorial? If you clear the next stage without ending it, the rewards will be upgraded!
Huh? Whats this?
Jeong Hoon furrowed his brow.
Hed cleared up to stage 4, but it wasnt over?
Hed never heard of a stage 5.
Had James Marcus lied?
If its stronger than orcs maybe a level 30 monster.
This could be a tough fight.
But Jeong Hoon didnt hesitate to decide.
Next stage.
There was no reason to waver.
No matter what it was, if it meant progressing even a little faster, hed take that path.
Tutorial Stage 5 begins.
This stage is only available to users who complete the tutorial within 1 hour.
Ah, got it.
James Marcus hadnt known stage 5 existed.
Hed spent nearly a full day barely scraping through stage 4.
Jeong Hoon, on the other hand, had cleared up to stage 4 in under an hour, qualifying him.
Receive the recognition of the pinnacle of martial arts ???.
Failure to receive recognition will end the tutorial immediately.
But this stage wasnt monster hunting.
Instead of a monster, a vague form appeared before him.
An indistinct shape, like a small clump of mist.
It stared piercingly at Jeong Hoon for a while before vanishing shortly after.
Recognition received.
You are the first to successfully complete all tutorial stages!
Settlement beginning.
It ended just like that?
He felt a bit dazed, but since hed cleared it, hed take it as a win.
Achievement points: 10,000 awarded.
10 gold awarded.
Title Perfect Beginner awarded.
Level increased by 10.
Hidden achievement unlocked! Please check your achievement rewards.
Was it because he was the first to conquer the tutorial?
The rewards were incomparable to his previous life.
Perfect Beginner
-Type: Title
-Rank: Epic
-All abilities permanently increased by 10.
-All stats permanently 10 (excluding mental strength).
All abilities boosted, plus an extra 10 to every stat.
A title that put him ten levels ahead of other beginners.
Even James Marcus hadnt obtained it, but now Jeong Hoon had.
He clenched his fist tight.
Wait, a hidden achievement?
A hidden achievement unlocked alongside the title.
Jeong Hoon opened the system and checked the achievements tab.
There, he found the hidden achievement reward.
One of the hidden achievements even the All Master Jeong Hoon hadnt achieved in his previous life was now open.
The ??? text had filled in.
Jeong Hoon read the achievement conditions and reward.
Mark of the Perfect Beginner has been awarded.
The mark!
Jeong Hoon shouted in surprise.
And for good reasonthis single mark had once prevented him from completing an item.
Who wouldve thought clearing tutorial stage 5 was the condition.
Wow, so this was how you got it No wonder I couldnt obtain it no matter what crazy stunts I pulled.
Jeong Hoons mouth fell open.
His heart raced faster than usual.
Hiss
Why does the bathroom have to hit right now?
The capsule door opened, and Ha-jin sat up.
Glancing at the clock, two hours had already passed.
Ha-jin hurried to the bathroom.
Hiss
He returned from the bathroom just in time to see Jeong Hoon opening his door.
Phew.
Jeong Hoon stepped out of the capsule with a sigh and chugged a drink.
What? Did you have fun?
Judging by the time, he should be finishing the tutorial and settling into Origin Village.
Yeah. Finished the tutorial. Gonna rest a bit and dive back in.
Jeong Hoon had zero intention of calling it a day after just the tutorial.
Hed regressed, but he was still years behind the early adopters.
To catch up, he had to move even a little faster.
Damn, you really suck at games.
Ha-jin consoled him with pity.
I suck?
He never imagined hearing he had no talent from Jang Ha-jin of all people.
It was so absurd he couldnt even force a laugh.
Yeah. Why drag out the tutorial like this? Just smack a goblin and head to Origin Village.
Oh, right. You said you only did stage 1 and went to Origin Village?
Huh? Did I say I only did stage 1?
Jang Ha-jin tilted his head.
Of course he would.
That story was from before the regression, shortly after Jeong Hoon first tried the capsule.
Back then, Ha-jin had been super jealous hearing Jeong Hoon cleared up to stage 2.
Hed nailed the perfect start.
Yeah. Thats what you said before.
So how far did you get in the tutorial?
Eh just average?
Pfft, bet you struggled at stage 2. Dude, stage 2 isnt meant to be cleared. Toss three goblins at total noobs with zero combat experience and expect them to win?
Jeong Hoon just smiled silently.
Ha-jin had been insanely jealous at stage 2; if he heard about being the first to clear stage 5 well, he wouldnt believe it.
Instead, Jeong Hoon reviewed what happened.
Hed gained far more from the tutorial than planned.
Especially the Mark of the Perfect Beginner.
Later, there was a process to combine marks, but hed failed weapon crafting because he lacked this one.
The Overlord Titan that the All Master Jeong Hoon desperately wanted.
The one-of-a-kind god-tier weapon beyond Legendary.
Now he had the foundation to create that Titan.
Jackpot Who knew this mark was tutorial-exclusive.
The mark hed craved so badly.
Hed already obtained the others once before, so in time, the Titan would be his.
Hey, anyway, lets eat. Its already lunchtime.
You couldnt eat meals inside the capsule.
Sure.
Jeong Hoon followed Ha-jin into the restaurant next to the capsule room.
It was packed with capsule users.
Hey, seat over theres empty.
Ha-jin quickly snagged the open spot.
Ramen, right?
Of course. This places ramen is insanely good.
Yeah?
I guarantee it. Bet you a thousand won youll be hooked after one bite.
Cheapskate.
Anyway, follow me.
The ramen Ha-jin raved about was egg-cheese ramen.
You picked ramen in a big bowl, then topped it with cheese and an egg.
But Ha-jin chose the mild flavor.
You get mild?
This ramen came spicy or mild; Jeong Hoon preferred spicy.
Mild was kinda bland.
He couldnt understand why anyone picked mild.
Whats with that sour face? Looking down on mild?
Nah just not my taste.
Tsk tsk, your tongues busted. Bet you cant even handle instant ramen.
Fuck, why would anyone eat that.
Jeong Hoon grimaced.
He couldnt fathom liking toothpaste flavor.
Especially Ha-jin, who didnt just like minthe loved it.
Original mint latte was his top pick.
Damn, shut it if you dont want a smackdown from the mint clan.
Mint lattes up.
Of course. Even this capsule room sold mint lattes.
Jeong Hoon ordered an Americano and sat down.
Slurp
Damn, the ramens good.
Hey, if youre heading to Origin Village, watch out for the assholes. Heard there are guys scamming noobs.
I know.
Even before his regression, Jeong Hoon had entered New World pretty late.
So hed run into territorial jerks plenty.
Early on, some weirdo had ripped off his hard-earned 1 gold 11 silver.
Hiss
After eating, Jeong Hoon headed straight back to the capsule.
With the foundation set, it was time to solidify it further.
Logging in.
Origin Village.
The village all beginners passed through after the tutorial.
A medieval-style town straight out of a fantasy tale.
Jeong Hoon stood in the center of the town square.
Blue mist rose faintly from the ground.
This was the portal.
Of course, the squares portal was one-way from the tutorial, so you couldnt use it to go back.
Lets move.
Jeong Hoon walked off immediately.
A normal beginner would be wandering in awe, but to him, this place was all too familiar.
Did you level up a bit?
Of course. Yesterday I was hunting up to Lv.10 hobgoblins?
The square bustled with users.
Users in armor, ones with hoods over their heads, ones with robes pulled low all sorts.
All equipped according to their jobs.
Jeong Hoon passed them and stopped in front of a rundown dojo.
Unlike the rest of the area, not a soul passed by.
Shall I go in?
Jeong Hoon stepped inside the dojo.